Antonio Fernós-Isern
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Dr. Antonio Fernós-Isern (May 10, 1895 – January 19, 1974) born in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico - cardiologist. Fernos-Isern was the first Puerto Rican cardiologist and its longest serving resident commissioner.
Early years
Fernos-Isern attended primary and intermediate schools in his hometown of Caguas. After graduating to Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania where he attended the "Pennsylvania State Normal School" to finish high school and complete pre-medical training. In May 1915, Fernos-Isern graduated as Doctor of Medicine in the College of Physicians and Surgeons from the University of Maryland.
Fernos-Isern then settled in the city of Caguas, Puerto Rico where he practiced medicine for two years; between 1918-1933, he held various administrative positions in the health services of Puerto Rico.In 1918 as Director for the capital city of San Juan;1919 to 1921, under Secretary of Health;1921-23 Director in city;1923-29 again Under Secretary;1930-33 Secretary oh Health of Puerto Rico.
First Puerto Rican cardiologist
In 1933, Fernos-Isern resigned as health commissioner and went to New York, here he completed his residency in cardiology at Columbia University and so became the "first" Puerto Rican cardiologist. Upon his later return to Puerto Rico, he became a professor at the "Public School of Tropical Medicine of Puerto Rico",where he had previously served as assistant and associate professor.
Political career
In 1937, Fernos-Isern joined Luis Muñoz Marín organize the "Popular Democratic Party" (Partido Popular Democratico). In 1941, he served as the Director of civilian defense for the metropolitan area of Puerto Rico. In 1942 he returned to head the Department of Health and the Administration of Public Housing, as Director of the War Effort Office for Puerto Rico. From 1943 to 1946 Dr. Fernos-Isern was also the acting governor of Puerto Rico, during the Governorship of Rexford G. Tugwell under appointment as Permanent Acting Governor approved by president Franklyn D. Roosevelt.
Resident Commissioner
In 1946, the governor of Puerto Rico, Jesus T. Piñero, appointed Fernos-Isern as his replacement for the Resident Commissioner to the U.S. Congress after unanimous endorsement from the legislature.. Fernos-Isern was re-elected for six consecutive years, serving a total of nineteen years. As Resident Commissioner, Fernos-Isern played a very important role in convincing the Government of the United States to give Puerto Ricans the right to govern their island. In 1947, the "Crawford Project", allowing Puerto Ricans to elect their governor was approved by Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.
On June 8, 1950, the Senate approved the "Public Law 600", allowing Puerto Rico to establish its own constitutional government. Fernos-Isern served as president of the Constituent Convention, which formulated the Constitution of the "Commonwealth" (Estado Libre Asociado).
Later years
Fernos-Isern did not seek re-election in 1964. He returned to Puerto Rico from Washington, D.C. and was elected to the Puerto Rican Senate, serving between 1965-1969. After he retired from politics, he returned to the University of Puerto Rico as Resident Scholar where he wrote his monumental work in three parts: The Estado Libre Asociado...(the free Associated State of Puerto Rico), and Filosofía y Doctrina del estado Librismo puertorriqueño(Philosophy and doctrine of the free associated status of Puerto Rico).
Antonio Fernos-Isern died in San Juan, Puerto Rico on January 19, 1974 and was buried with full state honors in the Puerto Rico National Cemetery located in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. His memory is honored at the Capitol building in San Juan with a bust facing the urn preserving the original Constitution of Puerto Rico. His collected papers are held in trust at the Fernós-Isern room at the Inter American University Law School in Hato Rey, San Juan.